International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation

International Business Machines Cirporation

Herman Rodriguez

Newton James Smith, Jr

Clifford Jay Spinac

Maria Azua Himmel

Michael Pierre Carlson

Dustin C Kirkland

Richard James McCarty

Benjamin Andrew Himmel

Faisal M Awada

Linda Arnold Lisle

Jeffrey Scott LaBaw

Viktors Berstis

Susann Marie Keohane

Randolph Michael Forlenza

Kelvin Roderick Lawrence

Brian Daniel Bauman

Amanda Jane Burton

Jay Allen Tunkel

Edward Lawrence Kunzinger, Iii

James Lee Combs

Michael Austin Halcrow

Joe Nathan Brown

James Alan Strothmann

Kylene Jo Hall

Randy Forlenza

Cornell G Wright, Jr

Michael Aaron Kaply

Kenneth Wayne Borgendale

Andrew B McNeill

Philip Burkes

Miguel Sang

Joel Leslie Smith

Hobart L Kurtz, Jr

Gary G Allran

Joseph A Boscove

Richard V Ballou

Peter Langer

Richard D Crowley

Stanley M Belyeu

James Patrick Bowman

James Newton Smith, Jr

Jeffery Scott LaBaw

James S Newton, Jr

Jason M Parker

James Randall Thomas

Candida Valois

Bernard M Reid

Newton James Smith

An apparatus and method for establishing a communication connection between a first party and a second party using a secured communication connection object are provided. With the apparatus and method, a first party generates the secured communication connection object by setting parameters identifying and limiting the use of the secured communication connection object for establishing communication connections with the first party. These parameters are encapsulated with contact information for the first party such that the contact information is encrypted. The resulting secured communication connection object is then transmitted to a second party's communication device. When the second party wishes to establish a communication connection with the first party, the secured communication connection object is accessed in memory using information obtained from the object registry, the contact information is decrypted, and a communication unit is provided with the contact information for establishing a communication connection.

Providing secured communication connections using a secured communication connection object

Methods, computer program products and systems for updating a dictionary on a computer are provided including identifying a set of words included with an application program being installed on the computer and identifying one or more installed dictionaries within the computer. The dictionaries that are identified, typically by searching the computer for installed dictionaries, may then be updated by adding one or more words of the set to at least one of the installed dictionaries. Optionally, one or more installed dictionaries may be identified by the user responding to a query asking the user to identify dictionaries or applications that contain dictionaries installed on the computer. An application programming interface may add the words to the dictionaries by associating the installed dictionaries with one or more installed application programs and identifying an API that is specific for the application and using the API to update the dictionaries.

Updating dictionary during application installation

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing multi-threaded conversations in an instant messaging system. The present invention provides a menu option to allow the start of a new topic of discussion within the current instant messaging session. When a new topic is selected, a new thread of conversation is created within the messaging window that is segregated from previous topics of discussion. This new thread of conversation may be created at all other locations for all of the parties involved in the instant messaging session. In this manner, each party to a messaging session containing multiple conversations may be able to understand which response is related to which thread of conversation. In addition, a menu option may be provided by the instant messaging application to allow a user to merge one or more of the threaded conversations into a single conversation.

Instant messaging windowing for topic threads

Methods, systems, and media for processing and clearing a check are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a paper check, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for the merchant, the merchant's bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the purchaser's bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronically scanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object (the 'e-check') that contains the binary data of the check information, a scanned image of the paper check, and identification data from the purchaser. Then, the check object is submitted to the check writer's, or purchaser's bank, for automated clearing without having to process the physical document any further.

E-check and e-commerce

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable code for shredding objects. The apparatus has a number of components including a receptacle that is configured to receive objects. A shredding unit is connected to the receptacle, wherein the shredding unit selectively destroys the objects placed into the receptacle. An object detector is used to detect the presence of an object in the receptacle. An object identifier identifies objects placed into the receptacle. The apparatus also has a memory and a connector. The connector is used to establish a communications link with a data processing system. A controller in the apparatus stores identifications of objects identified by the object identifier in the memory and sends a signal to the shredding unit to control shredding of the objects.

Document destruction management

The present invention is directed to a multi-way connection management (MWCM) system for monitoring and maintaining call connections among a group of participating parties. The multi-way call connection may be established by connecting the originating party and the desired participating parties. Once a multi-way call connection is established, the multi-way call connection may be maintained until the originating party desires to terminate the call. Any disconnected party may rejoin the multi-way call by an automatic redial performed by the MWCM system. Additionally, the originating party may provide a call continuation period of the multi-way call when the originating party can rejoin the multi-way call. In this manner, other participating parties may stay in the multi-way call during the provided period without the originating party being connected. Advantageously, the originating party may save the time and effort of repeating a tedious process (by calling all other participating parties) to establish a multi-way call.

Multi-way call connection management system

A computer implemented method for object destruction. An object is detected in a receptacle and identified. Based on the type of object identified, the object may be destroyed in a shredder and a confirmation of the destruction of the object is recorded for reference. The object may also be directed to a secure bin where it will not be destroyed.

Embodiments include hardware and/or software for receiving an electronic receipt from a merchant that describes a transaction for a product by a purchaser and gathering product information from one or more sources such as the merchant, the product's manufacturer, the purchaser's bank, and/or an accessories dealer. Upon gathering the product information, the product information is associated with the transaction for the product on the electronic receipt and packaged in a standard, electronic format, an aggregated package, that is accessible and manageable by the purchaser's software, such as a personal finance manager (PFM) like Quicken&#x2122;, Quickbooks&#x2122;, Microsoft Money&#x2122;, or the like. The aggregated package can then be sent to the purchaser via an email address supplied by the purchaser at the time of the purchaser or by the purchaser's bank while completing a funds transfer for the transaction.

E-commerce transaction and product information aggregation and processing

Mechanisms are provided for determining the location of a stylus for a portable electronic device. One embodiment provides for determining at a first time that a stylus was not returned to a stylus receiver of the portable electronic device and determining last usage information relating to a last usage of the stylus at a second, earlier time. The embodiment may further include storing by the portable electronic device the determined last usage information and determining stylus location information based on the last usage information. The embodiment may further include providing an indication of the stylus location information to a user. Stylus location information may include one or more of a physical location, a geographic location, a calendar event associated with a last usage, directions to a place of last usage, an application being used at last usage of the stylus, or a user identity.

Determining the location of a stylus for a portable electronic device

The present invention is directed to a method and system for altering an administrator of a multi-way call during the multi-way call connection and transferring the associated charges from one administrator to another. After a multi-way call connection is established from the originating party to many participating parties, the originating party may be given an opportunity to shift an administrator role to one of the participating parties. The participating party designated to be a new administrator may accept or refuse the request from the originating party. Once the participating party accepts the new administrator role, the subsequent charges may be transferred to the participating party and the originating party may be able to continue in or to drop out from the multi-way call without further responsibility of charges.

Method and system for transferring an administrator and associated charges during a multi-way call

A method, system, and program for telephony based remote location monitoring are provided. A telephone network receives the caller request to listen only to a remote location telephony device. The telephone network allocates a listen only channel between the caller telephony device and the remote location telephony device. The telephone network activates a microphone at the remote location telephony device via the listen only channel. Then, audio detected at the microphone is streamed via the listen only channel to the caller telephony device, such that the telephone network enables a caller to monitor a remote location through the remote location telephony device with minimized allocation of telephone network resources.

Telephony based remote location monitoring

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for filtering and prioritizing instant messaging threaded conversations in an instant messaging system based on thread content. The instant messaging client analyzes an incoming message to determine the thread subject. Based on the thread subject analysis, the client determines the priority level associated with the incoming message. The message is then delivered and displayed to the recipient according to the priority level. The present invention also allows a participant initiating a thread of conversation to override filter settings on a messaging client. The authority to override settings may be predicated on an external list, such as a corporate telephone directory. As a result, the participant, having some authority or rights to override the recipient's instant messaging settings, may be allowed to conduct a messaging session with the recipient.

Instant messaging priority filtering based on content and hierarchical schemes

Inserting into a document at least one screen image of a computer software application including inserting a macro at a location in the document for the screen image, the macro including instructions for navigating the computer software application to the screen image and for capturing the screen image and executing the macro. In typical embodiments, inserting a macro at a location in the document for the screen image also includes navigating the computer software application to the screen image by a user's operations of user interface controls and capturing the user's operations of user interface controls as instructions for navigating the computer software application to the screen image. Typical embodiments also include executing the macro by navigating the computer software application to the screen image and storing the screen image in computer memory. Executing the macro may include executing the macro for a language in dependence upon regional configuration settings.

Inserting into a document a screen image of a computer software application

A method, system, and program for security screening of electronic devices by device identifier are provided. A security scanning system detects an identifier from an electronic device. The identifier may be a radio frequency identifier or other type of identifier which is preferably detectable by the security scanning system regardless of the operating status of the electronic device. The security scanning system queries a database with the identifier for information about the electronic device. Responsive to receiving the information about the electronic device from the central database, at least one real-time scanned characteristic of the electronic device is compared with this information. The information includes characteristics of the components of the electronic device and an x-ray overlay of the electronic device. If the real-time scanned characteristics and the information match, then electronic device is designated as secure.

Security screening of electronic devices by device identifier

Methods, systems, and media for aggregating and processing product information are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for receiving an electronic receipt from a merchant that describes a transaction for a product by a purchaser and gathering product information from one or more sources such as the merchant, the product's manufacturer, the purchaser's bank, and/or an accessories dealer. Upon gathering the product information, the product information is associated with the transaction for the product on the electronic receipt and packaged in a standard, electronic format, an aggregated package, that is accessible and manageable by the purchaser's software, such as a personal finance manager (PFM) like Quicken&#x2122;, Quickbooks&#x2122;, Microsoft Money&#x2122;, or the like. The aggregated package can then be sent to the purchaser via an email address supplied by the purchaser at the time of the purchaser or by the purchaser's bank while completing a funds transfer for the transaction.

E-commerce transaction aggregation and processing

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Herman Rodriguez